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The Twelve, the Seventy-Two, and other followers
We are sometimes under the impression that Jesus called only the Twelve and that they were the "only" disciples. In Matthew 10:5 we read how Jesus called the Twelve: And calling His twelve disciples to Him… These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, son of Zebedee, and… (also Mark 3:13–19; Luke 6:12–16).
We, however, also read in Luke 10:1 about 72 others that Jesus appointed and sent out: After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit. In the small circle with the twelve, some women travelled with Jesus. (Luke 8:1-3). In John 6:66, we read about another more comprehensive group of disciples: From that time on, many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. The same happened in Mark 10:21 when Jesus invited the rich young ruler to follow Him, but the man was unwilling to pay the price for following Jesus.
Day after day, Jesus calls people to follow Him.
Many say no.
There is a belief that one can be a Christian without being a disciple. Jesus didn't give His followers that option. He calls us to follow Him, to make fishers of men and be disciples. For Jesus, to be a follower was to be a disciple.
Total Obedience: Day by day, Jesus calls people to follow Him. Can you honestly say that you fully obey Jesus' call of "come and follow Me?"
About this Plan
The first thing that Jesus did when He came to the disciples was to call them to follow Him. And He added: to make fishers of men. In the same way, Jesus is calling us to follow Him and make fishers of men. Many think only about salvation when Jesus calls them. No, He calls us to repentance and to be fishers of men. It is one concept.
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